From TKH Security: AVL's Expansive List of Customer Amenities Now Includes Upgraded Parking Facilities

NEWS ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY TKH SECURITY, shared to highlight the new parking guidance system at AVL:

Cheshire, CT  – TKH Security (formerly Park Assist) is delighted to announce the successful implementation of its Automated Parking Guidance System (APGS) at the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL).  The camera-based parking guidance system, awarded through a contract with the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, is now live and enhancing the overall customer experience for AVL's travelers.

“The addition of a visual parking guidance system in our parking garage is an excellent enhancement for travelers,” said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., President and CEO of Asheville Regional Airport.  “Our parking garage is often very full, and now our customers can easily identify open spaces with a quick glance, which makes the parking process much more efficient. The system works well, a definite improvement for our customers.”

In 2022, AVL made an economic impact of $2.26 billion in the region, marking a record-breaking year with more than 1.8 million passengers, a 29% increase compared to 2021. And just released, 2023 passenger numbers grew by 22% resulting in AVL's first-ever year in which more than 2 million passengers were served. Responding to this growth and anticipating future demand, AVL unveiled an expansion plan named AVL Forward in the summer of 2023. This initiative includes the construction of a new terminal, which broke ground at the same time installation began on their new APGS. 

The APGS monitors more than 1,000 parking spaces across five levels of parking.  TKH Security’s camera-based M5 smart sensor system provides an effective method for travelers to quickly find available parking spaces, significantly reducing their time to park by up to 63%. The M5 smart-sensors, capable of monitoring up to six parking spaces simultaneously, utilize bright, color-coded LED lights (often green for available and red for occupied) to visually guide parkers to open spaces, alleviating potential stress during the parking process. The APGS not only reduces traffic congestion but also assists travelers in reaching their gates faster.

Capturing footage 24/7, the autonomous, camera-based M5 smart-sensors stream live HD video to the central database, INX. This allows the Parking Division to perform real-time monitoring of occupancy and activity, using interactive dashboards with live data. Operators can maximize usage and revenue per square foot, improve security and surveillance, and forecast traveler activity. 

“We take pride in being the number one provider of camera-based parking guidance in the US. Working with the Asheville Regional Airport, our team is excited about our continued growth in the state of North Carolina. We’re thrilled to provide AVL’s travelers with an enhanced and stress-free parking experience,” said Regional Sales Executive, Southeast, Thomas Alexander. “AVL is our 4^th major APGS airport project in North Carolina.”

As scheduled, APGS installation was completed in the first quarter of 2024. AVL’s APGS package also includes:

• VMS NAV signage placed at the garage entrance to assist parkers with wayfinding,
• An API package that provides the airport’s Parking Division with a secure connection to a limitless set of third-party parking related solutions,
• And INX with real-time dashboards and business intelligence for the Parking Division to maximize parking operations.

Fast Company's recent article, "The new, sci-fi ways AI will radically redesign airports," shines a light on TKH Security's APGS and its impact on airport parking experiences. The article not only underscores the efficiency, security, and convenience features of our APGS, as witnessed at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but also aligns with our recent partnership at the Asheville Regional Airport.

"Being featured in Fast Company is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our team. With AVL's Automated Parking Guidance System now live, we’re proud to offer travelers a parking experience that prioritizes efficiency and convenience, shaping the future of airport operations," said Thomas.